Veteran Nollywood actress Fausat Balogun has shared a candid account of the hardship she endured in her early acting career, revealing that she once resorted to stealing food just to survive.
Speaking in an interview with The African List, the actress said her journey in the industry was marked by intense struggle, including working on movie sets without receiving payment.
“Anyone who says they don’t face challenges in this job is lying. I suffered a lot… We went to shoot a movie at a school, didn’t make any money, and came back empty handed. We had a moment where we went to steal food to survive,” she said.
She recalled surviving on minimal resources during those years, describing how she and colleagues managed whatever little they had just to eat.
Beyond the hardship, she used her story as a lesson for younger actors, urging them to remain patient and trust the timing of their success.
“Don’t be too faster than your destiny, wait for your time. When your time comes, it will be like you did a money ritual,” she added.
Madam Saje also reflected on personal challenges, including not advancing beyond primary school due to her early start in acting. She noted that this affected her command of English and limited opportunities in the English language segment of Nollywood.
Despite these setbacks, Fausat Balogun has built a respected and enduring career in the Yoruba film industry, earning recognition for her performances and maintaining relevance over the years.
